India asks Nepal to provide security to its companies
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Aug 11, IRNA -- India has urged Nepal to provide security to Indian companies in the kingdom following Maoist threats to close down some two dozen big companies, including Indian joint ventures, indefinitely from next week. According to media reports, the Indian embassy has written a letter to the Nepalese Foreign Ministry asking it to ensure that security cover be provided to the Indian joint ventures operating in the country, Sanjay Verma, first information secretary at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. "We have taken very serious note of the Maoist threats to Indian joint venture companies including Surya Nepal, a tobacco manufacturing company," the Indian embassy official said. Such kinds of incidents will discourage other Indian joint ventures operating in Nepal, he said, adding that it could also adversely affect the employment situation in Nepal. "We have asked the government to take appropriate measures to ensure greater security of the Indian companies here," he added. A trade union affiliated to the underground Maoist outfit had issued a statement here threatening to close down indefinitely big companies, including the Indian joint venture Surya Nepal, Five Star Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Bottlers Nepal, Pashupati Spinning Mills and Sangai Plastic from August 17. Currently there are about 85 Indian joint ventures in Nepal. The Maoists have accused those companies of exploiting their employees and spying on Maoists. The rebels also suspect that the royal family has invested in most of these firms. Maoists have been struggling to establish a communist-style government in Nepal to replace the constitutional monarchy. More than 10,000 people have been killed in the insurgency since 1996. 2160/2321/1432
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